The Groupe Spécial Mobile Association (GSMA) has thrown its support behind the Abuja Ministerial Declaration on Meaningful Connectivity for Africa, describing the agreement as a major milestone in advancing the continent’s digital future through evidence-based policymaking, increased investment and stronger regional collaboration.
The declaration was adopted by ministers and heads of delegation during the just concluded African Telecommunications Union (ATU) Conference of Plenipotentiaries (CPL-2026) in Abuja.
It commits African governments to implementing policies that promote meaningful connectivity, digital inclusion, technology-neutral regulation, resilient digital infrastructure and the development of locally relevant digital services.
The agreement also emphasises the need for stronger partnerships among governments, industry players and development partners to bridge Africa’s connectivity and digital usage gaps, which continue to hinder socio-economic development in many parts of the continent.
Speaking at the forum, Caroline Mbugua, Senior Director, Public Policy, Africa, GSMA, said the Abuja Ministerial Declaration demonstrates a common commitment among African governments to delivering meaningful connectivity through modern and investment-friendly policies.
“The Abuja Ministerial Declaration sends an important signal that African governments share a common vision for delivering meaningful connectivity through modern, evidence-based and investment-friendly policy. Its emphasis on digital inclusion, technology-neutral regulation, resilient infrastructure and stronger regional collaboration reflects the practical policy foundations needed to accelerate Africa’s digital transformation,” she said.
According to the GSMA, the declaration reflects a shared vision among African nations to accelerate digital transformation by creating enabling policy environments that encourage innovation, investment and wider access to digital technologies.
The GSMA reaffirmed its commitment to working with governments, regulators and industry stakeholders to support the implementation of the declaration, with the aim of expanding digital access, strengthening infrastructure and unlocking new opportunities for economic growth and innovation across Africa.
Supporting the ambitions set out in the Abuja Declaration, the GSMA, Nigeria’s Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Togo’s Ministry of Digital Economy and Transformation, Kenya’s Ministry of information, Communications and the Digital Economy, Namibia’s Ministry of Information and Communication Technology, Benin’s Ministry of Digital Transformation and Innovation, Awarri, Zindi, Pawa AI and Mozisha today announced ATLAS Umoja AI –a new pan-African initiative to strengthen collaboration on African language AI.
Designed to complement national AI programmes, Africa Umoja will bring together governments, industry and researchers to share expertise, datasets and best practice, helping develop trusted, scalable AI that better reflects Africa’s languages, cultures and development priorities. The initiative aims to accelerate innovation, attract investment and scale African language AI across the continent.
Angela Wamola, Head of Africa, GSMA, said: “Africa’s AI future must reflect Africa’s own languages, communities and development priorities. Africa Umoja brings together governments, industry, researchers and innovators to build African language AI at scale. By making AI and digital services available in the languages people speak every day, the initiative will help tackle two of the biggest barriers to internet adoption – digital literacy and locally relevant content – supporting efforts to close Africa’s usage gap and expand meaningful connectivity across the continent.”
Dr. Bosun Tijani, Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy of Nigeria said: “Artificial Intelligence will be a defining technology for Africa’s future, but its benefits must be built on our own languages, cultures and knowledge systems. Nigeria is proud to have taken the first step through N-ATLAS and is equally proud to see that vision evolve into the continental ATLAS Umoja AI.”
Silas Adekunle, Founder & CEO, Awarri added: “Awarri is proud to support The ATLAS Umoja AI and contribute lessons from N-ATLAS, which has demonstrated what is possible when African language data, local technical talent and practical AI applications are brought together. This is an important opportunity to help build AI systems that work for African languages and communities.”
Celina Lee, CEO & Co-Founder, Zindi concluded: “Africa’s AI future will be built by the people who best understand its languages, cultures and communities. Through ATLAS Umoja AI, we have an opportunity to empower local researchers, data scientists and developers to solve meaningful challenges, strengthen national AI capabilities and ensure African language AI is developed by Africans, for Africans.”